Struggling To Make Any Gains

[mjr]

I have been cycling quite a lot since May last year, I have done 30 miles every single week minimum since then and more recently I have been doing 50 plus miles a week and over 100 for a couple of those weeks.

I don’t seem to be getting any better though could it be that cycling just isn’t for me? I put in a lot of effort and I’m always out there doing it and I just don’t get much faster and can’t really go much further.

Well, you're probably not going to be winning many all-comers races, but as for whether it's for you: are you enjoying it?

There’s people I know who cycle and they don’t put in half the effort week by week as I do but they are quite a lot faster than me and can knock out 50/60 mile rides without much issue.

Its frustrating I want to get good at cycling and I’m putting about all the hours in I possibly can but it isn’t happening.

And then there's the likes of me, who can do 50/60 miles OK (as long as I can have a good sleep at some point) but I'm slower than you. Does that mean I'm bad at cycling? Oh well, I don't care what you think - I'm having fun, enjoying the view, going places, experiencing stuff

I do suffer from an illness which effects my ability to absorb nutrients but with all the effort I put in surly I should be getting better at cycling?

Maybe you're overdoing it. Are you still under specialist care and can you consult them about it?

 

[gbb]

30 miles a week....its not a lot really (without meaning to discourage or put you down) .
Most of us will settle to an average and it won' change much for years without some serious work. For about 8 to 10 years I averaged 15 to 16 average on 50 mile rides on a roadbike, it never varied much. Only when I started really pushing, seriously, did it slowly edge up.(mind I was probably 45 to 50 by then)

What distances are each ride ?..is it one 30 miler or a few shorter rides a week

Do you commute by bike ?, I always found that a great opportunity to push things along on shorter rides.

In short, more miles, harder pace, more frequent rides but not too frequent at first (don' overdo it in other words, let yourself recover)...theres no shortcut IME but you sound as though you have the desire, use it while its there.

As said up post, winter doesn' help, it' harder to get muscles going, spring and summer will see you improve anyway.

 

[Lozi]

Thanks for all your reply’s very informative and a lot to take in!

There are a few segments I have been attacking recently but I cant Maintain a big effort for as long as I would like, I guess that will improve.

It’s interesting all has been said about winter I have been riding in the dark and feeezing cold for most of it so I can see now that’s got to be a big factor, maybe it will improve with the weather I did creep back towards 13’s this week.

I’m not under eating at all or actively trying to lose weight if I stopped cycling tomorrow I would probably pile it all back in a month I think I’m towards the higher end of ideal weight for my height now.

The reason I cycle is to try and gain fitness after a few years of operations and horrible health and also I’m all about the numbers, if it wasnt for Strava and mileage goals I wouldn’t be on the bike at all it’s all about trying to achieve something for me.

Illness wise I feel the best I have since I became ill the cycling etc seems to help that.

I’m doing minimum 50 miles a week now sometimes over 100 I did 133 a few weeks ago, my rides are generally minimum 10 miles but often around 15-20. The max I do in one go is around 30 as that’s as far as I seem to be able to go.

My goal for the summer is do a 14mph average on one of the regular local routes and achieve a 50 mile ride. The only reason I’d like to beat my eliteest colleagues is because there attitude towards me doing more miles than them is pretty poor because I don’t wear the lycra etc i don’t count. Would be satisfying to get quick considering they laugh at the prospect of that!

I have started doing zwift workouts etc and did perform an FTP test (was horrible lol) I have to say 30 mins of zwift I feel like I’ve done 2 hours outside on the road lol

I guess I’ll keep plugging away and get the road bike out when the weather perks up maybe it will all come good lol


Thanks

 

[vickster]

Why not go join a local club?

 

[Lozi]

Why not go join a local club?

The only couple I know of one of them seems very serious all really fast guys and one of the local shops does group rides etc but there idea of a slow pace is around 16mph average lol

 

[vickster]

@biggs682 is near you, maybe he can help

 

[Lozi]

That’s really hilly compared to what do I did a 32 mile ride a couple weeks ago that was 1565ft elevation gain I think I’d be literally dead after your route lol

Your experience is interesting as most people say it never gets easier you just get faster.

 

[si_c]

Overall, sounds to me like you're doing fine! You've got a good attitude, and as a numbers guy, I totally get why you find that motivating. Just keep doing what you're doing. Set yourself small achievable goals, like @Drago said, and you'll find yourself coming along in no time. Especially with the good weather around the corner, I find that endlessly motivating to get out!

 

[Soltydog]

I'm with Skol - its good to have targets and strive to improve, but don't lose sight of the fact that cycling is simply a fun thing to do!

Top advice

Riding with a good club will help improve your average speed, it's easier in a group if you are drafting others & your speed will easily increase by 2mph with the same effort, then you get used to get riding at that pace & you'll soon find you are riding a little faster on your own.
It's easy to get bogged down with stats, speed, distances etc, but as Drago says above all make sure you just enjoy your cycling. I'm on now on average 2-3mph slower (maybe more) than I was 2 years ago, but I'm enjoying my cycling more. I used to go out chasing KOMs etc on Strava & be so down when I got home when I'm not got PBs

 

[BianchiVirgin]

Yes keep at it! When I started out on MTB about 18 months back I literally walked at least all of the hills with the group I was starting with. It's a slog but a few months later I was riding them all.

You're winning despite the fact the numbers may not immediately show it. A long distance on any MTB is not easy either so when you change to the road bike you'll be flying.

 

[Lozi]

Thanks guys when I started the thread I felt like I was really failing but maybe I’m not, maybe I’m expecting to much to be up to the pace of guys who have been riding many years in under 1 year.. there was a lad I knew who took up cycling and within months he was on pace with the quick guys at work without doing that many miles, or at least it seemed that way at the time maybe I just focus on negatives lol

I have never riden in a group so maybe when I get my road bike out (cyclocross bike with road tyres) I will find a group to ride with! Maybe the “slow” 16mph average Baines Racing (local shop) group rides aren’t as far away as I think when you consider drafting?

 

[biggs682]

@Lozi i presume you are Towcester way ? I am over in Wellingborough .

You are more than welcome to come and join me on a ride or two either on the mtb or the road bike , but be warned i can go out quite early but do go out some evenings .

But imho i wouldn't worry about when i am out on one of my retro road bike i normally only average a max of 15 mph and quite often slower but i do stop often for pictures and a snoop around .

thanks @vickster

 

[HLaB]

The only couple I know of one of them seems very serious all really fast guys and one of the local shops does group rides etc but there idea of a slow pace is around 16mph average lol

I would worry too much about that, they're riding in a group and if not on the front they are doing 75% of the work; on their own they'll probably be struggling to 15mph. When I joined my first club the guidelines were 15mph and I held off until I could comfortably achieve that on my own. I wished I had joined earlier though as I quickly found out 15,16,17mph etc was relatively easy in a pack and the solo 15mph was harder.

 

[PaulSB]

The only couple I know of one of them seems very serious all really fast guys and one of the local shops does group rides etc but there idea of a slow pace is around 16mph average lol

There are as others have said many different factors so I’ll just mention my own experience which may help.

1. Always enjoy it. You seem to have the right approach and to enjoy your riding. Stay focused on enjoyment

2. Winter riding is always tougher for everyone no matter their ability. When the weather improves you will suddenly see the benefits of all those hard winter rides.

3. Get on your road bike. In my experience one reaches a point when the bike limits what one can achieve. Your MTB is probably holding you back.

4. Join this second group. Riding with a bunch is easier physically, the miles fly past and you won’t notice your speed.

5. Let this group know what you want to achieve. If you struggle to begin with if they are a decent bunch they wil help you. If they don’t help find a group or club that will

6. Moving up a level will spur you on just through the adrenaline of trying to keep in there. 18 months ago I made the jump to a faster, stronger group in my club. The average speed I was used to but this group also chucks in 5-6000 feet of climbs. I struggled for a month but soon found myself holding on. I’m still one of the last up the climbs but then I’m 20 years older than the majority. Challenge yourself in a group.

7. It is true that the only way to get better is to keep riding. It never stops hurting, you just go further and faster!!!

Good luck. I’d wager when the sun shines you’ll be back here to tell us how well the rides are going.

 

[steveindenmark]

"I want to get good at cycling"

I dont really know what that means.

Fast does not equate to good in my book. I have seen a lot of fast riders who are terrible cyclists. How they have stayed alive so long is a wonder.